Postural drainage rest



Jan. 27, 1970 'w. B. WERNER 3,491, 8

E'OSTURAL DRAINAGE REST Filed March 26, 1968 INVENTOR. W/LHELM/NA B- WERNER BY Mu AITORNE YS :UIIlt6Cl State patmt r 3,491,385 POSTURAL DRAINAGE REST Wilhelmina B. Werner, 1190 Park Ave., Rochester, N.Y. 14610 Filed Mar. 26, 1968, Ser. No. 716,175 Int. Cl. A61g 15/00, 13/00 US. Cl. 327 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A body rest has an upper end curved to fit the lap and pelvic region of the user and a fiat support surface extending downward from the upper end at an angle of 45 50 below the horizontal to support the chest region of the user, and an adjustable stand supports the rest at a sufiicient height so that the knees and thighs of the user can extend well below the upper end at one side of the rest and the head of the user can extend below the lower end of the flat surface at the other side of the rest. Handles are preferably provided for assisting the user in mounting and dis-mounting the rest.

This invention relates to a postural drainage rest for supporting a user comfortably in a position in which material can drain by gravity from his respiratory system.

Several diseases, including bronchiectasis and cystic fibrosis require positioning of the body so that material can drain by gravity from the respiratory system. Such a practice is generally known as postural drainage and has been accomplished in the past by hanging the upper portion of the body over the edge of a bed whether unsupported or resting on a board angling downward from the top of the bed. Such an arrangement is awkward, uncomfortable, and can produce pains in the back and elsewhere. The discomfort and inconvenience is severe enough so that it is difiicult to persuade adults to perform such drainage exercises as regularly and completely as advisable, and small children have to be strapped into position to insure proper drainage.

The objects of the invention include, without limitation:

(a) a drainage rest that overcomes the disadvantages of prior art drainage arrangements;

(b) a rest that supports the body in proper position for drainage and yet is comfortable and does not produce backpain or other body pain;

(c) a postural drainage rest that is safe, adjustable for different size users and easy to mount and dismount; and

(d) a postural drainage rest that is portable and compact.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent hereinafter from the specification which describes the invention, its use, operation, and preferred embodiments, from the drawings, which constitute a part of the disclosure, and from the subject matter claimed.

Generally, the inventive postural drainage device includes: a body rest having an upper end curved to fit the lap and pelvic region of the user and a fiat surface extending downward from the upper end at from 45- 50 below the horizontal, the flat surface extending to the upper chest region of the user; and means for supporting the rest above a supporting surface at a sufficient height to allow free space at each end of the rest for the thighs and knees of the user to extend well below the upper end of the rest at one side and for the head of the user to extend below the lower end of the flat surface at the other side of the rest. Preferably, handles are arranged to assist the user in mounting and dismounting the rest.

3,491,385 Patented Jan. 27, 1970 In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the inventive drainage rest;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the rest of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a user supported on the rest of FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 4 is a side view of a portable version of the inventive rest.

Referring to FIGS. l-3, drainage device 10 includes a body rest 11 and a support stand 12. Support stand 12 is generally known and preferably adjustable in height. Its requirements are a broad, secure footing for safety, and convenient and secure height adjustment. Rest 11 is fastened securely on stand 12 to provide the stability necessary to support any weight user without tipping or rocking.

Rest 11 is preferably made about the width of the users body, and the upper end 13 of rest 11 is curved to fit the lap and the pelvic region of the user. For an adult, a suitable curvature for the upper end 13 of rest 11 has been found to be a cylindrical surface of approximately an 8" diameter. The fitting of curved end 13 to the lap and pelvic region of the user is shown in FIG. 3.

A generally flat surface 14 extends downward from upper end 13 at an angle below the horizontal of from 45-50, and as best shown in FIG. 3, extends to the upper chest region of the user. Flat surface 14 supports the upper torso of the user at the preferred angle for postural drainage.

A pair of side handles 15 and 16 are arranged alongside flatsurface 14 and extend outward to straddle the body of the user. Handles 15 and 16 are used in mounting and dismounting device 10.

Another support handle 17 is arranged between rods 18 and 19 below the lower end of flat surface 14. Rods 18 and 19 extend approximately in the plane of flat surface 14 to dispose handle 17 in such plane, and handle 17 is preferably adjustable to different heights between rods 18 and 19 by fastening handle 17 through different holes 20 in rods 18 and 19. Handle 17 is gripped by the user to raise and lower his upper torso in mounting and dismounting device 10. Also, rods 18 and 19 and handle 17 can be used to support the arms, hands, or head of the user during drainage.

A portable version of a drainage rest 25 according to the invention is shown in FIG. 4. The upper end 26 of rest 25 is curved to fit the lap and pelvic region of the user, and flat surface 27 extends downward from curved end 26 at the same 45 50 angle below the horizontal to support the chest region of the user. The lower end 28 of rest 25 rests near the edge of an elevated structure 29 such as a table or bed so that the head of the user can hang below edge 29.

Support legs 30 are connected to rest 25 by hinges 31 and are braced by jointed brackets 32 so that legs 30 can fold flat against the back of rest 25 for portability and compactness. Feet 33 are arranged to support the lower ends of legs 30, and are preferably large enough to stand on the soft upper surface of a bed.

An important feature of the inventive rest that is common to the embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 1-3 is that the support means holding the rest above the support surface elevates the rest to a sufficient height so that the thighs and knees of the user can extend Well below the upper end 13 or 26 down into free space on one side of the rest, and the head of the user can extend below the lower end of fiat surface 14 or 27 into free space at the other side of the rest. This allows the user to rest in an inverted sitting posture with the legs bent as illustrated in FIG. 3. Such a position is more comfortable than any attained with prior art drainage rest devices and relieves 3 the user Ofrnuscle strain, backache, and other discomforts infiicted by'prior artdevices.

.The inventive rest, at least'on its curved upper end 13 or 26 and flat surface 14 or 27, is padded for the users comfort, and padding on rest 11 preferably extends over all upper surfaces for improved appearance: The inventive rest is sturdil y constructed to support the weight of intended'user, and is preferably made in different sizes for children and adults. A variety of other handles and supportqstand arrangements fall within the spirit of the invention. i f

r In using thelembodiment of FIGS. 1-3, handles 15 and ld'are'grasped to raise or lower device to the most comfortable height for the user. The preferred height brings curved surface 13to the upper thigh region of the user. Then bracing the upper torso on handles and 16 or handle 17, the user bends over curved surface 13 and lowers his upper torso to the posture illustrated in FIG. 3. In such position, the users head can reston handle 17, and his hands or arms can rest on handle 17 or rods 18 and 19. After drainage, the user pushes up his ripper torso by using handie 17 or handles 15 and 16 and lowers his feet to the floor for dismounting from device 10; Y

Portable rest is positioned near the edge of a bed, table, stair-step or other structure affording freespace below an edge, and the user kneels behind the rest and bends over curved surface 26 to rest the upper torso on fiat surface 27. In such position, knees and thighs can extend below upper surface 26, and the head can extend beiow lower end 28 for drainage.

Thus it will be seen that the inventive drainage rest accomplishes the objects stated above in affording a cornfortable, safe, and convenient rest for supporting the body in drainage posture.

Other features, advantages, and other specific embodiments of this invention will be apparent to those exercising ordinary skill in the pertinent art after considering the foregoing disclosure. In this regard, while specific preferred embodiments have been described in detail, such disclosure is intended as illustrative, rather than limiting, and other embodiments, variations, and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed and claimed.

I claim:

A postural drainage device comprising:

(a) a body r'est approximately the width of a user;

(b) an upper end of said rest being curved to fit the lap and pelvic region of said user;

(c) a substantially flat surface of said rest extending downward from said upper end of said rest at an apof the body 4, proximate angle below the horizontal of from 45 50); I (d) said flat surface extending far enough to reach the upper chest region 'of said user supported on said rest; and 'z (e) means forsupporting said rest above a support surface. at a height sufiicient to allow free space for the thighs and knees of said user to extend well below said upper end on one side of said'rest and for the head of said user to extend below the lower end of said flat surface at the other side of said rest.

2. The device of claim 1 including padding on said body rest.

3. The device of claim 1 including a pair of handles arranged on respective opposite sides of, said rest in the region of said flat surface.

4.:The device'of claim 3 wherein said handlesv extend outward beyond said flat surface so to straddle the body of-said user supported on saidrest. 1

5. The device of claim 1 including a support handle extending below the lower end of said flat surface and approximately in the plane of said fiat surface. 1

6. The device ofclaim 5 wherein said support is adjustable in height.- W

-7. The device of claim 1 wherein saidsupport means is adjustable in height. 1 I

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said support means is joldable against said rest for transporting said device in acompact package.

9. The device of claim 1 including padding on said body rest and a pair of handles arranged on respective opposite sides of said rest in the region of said flat surface.

10. The device of claim 9 inciuding a support handle extending below the lower end of said flat surface and approximately in the plane of said flat surface.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein said support handle is adjustable in height, and said pair of handles extend outward beyond said fiat surface so as to straddle the body'of said user supported on said rest.

handle References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,887,151 5/1959 Springer 5327 XR 3,271,028 9/1966 Albin 5327 XR 3,295,669 12/1966 Emery 5327 BOBBY GAY, Primary Examiner A. M. CALVERT, Assistant Examiner W s. 01. X.R. 1281 

